Patriots' 'Hooman' has been a busy man this offseason

New England tight end Hoomanawanui assumes leadership role as he prepares for 2014 season.

FOXBORO – Michael Hoomanawanui really should be looking forward to the upcoming season.

It’ll give him an opportunity to wind down.

From soaring with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels in California in March to exchanging vows with his fiancée in Hawaii in July, the Patriots tight end is sure to remember this as one eventful offseason.

“(It’s been) a little different, obviously, with the wedding. A lot of time’s gone into that,” said Hoomanawanui, who is scheduled to walk down the aisle on July 12. “But definitely the Blue Angels experience is something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time and (I) had the opportunity to do it.

“So (I) went up there for about 45 minutes, flew around. (They) showed me what their daily life is like. It’s neat to compare to us, being part of a team, the daily routine that they go through. It was pretty cool and something I will definitely cherish for the rest of my life.”

The behind-the-scenes look he and St. Louis Rams punter Johnny Hekker (who also took to the air) were afforded prior to taking flight with the Blue Angels prompted Hoomanawanui to draw an analogy between the rigors they put themselves through and what NFL players experience during the course of a season.

“Everyone just sees their shows on Saturdays and Sundays and it’s kind of what people, I guess, would see out of us on Sundays or Mondays or Thursdays, whatever it may be,” Hoomanawanui said while taking a break from the Patriots’ voluntary conditioning program at Gillette Stadium on Thursday. “They don’t see all the work that goes on behind it; the training camp that they have in winter time that we have in summer time, all that stuff, the daily routine.”

Hoomanawanui’s current routine is leading him toward his fifth NFL season, his third with the Patriots, who signed him on Sept. 5, 2012, following his release from the Rams after two seasons in St. Louis.

With Rob Gronkowski on the mend from the torn anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament he suffered in his right knee in his team’s 27-26 win over the Cleveland Browns last Dec. 8 and a candidate to open another season on the sidelines, there is the distinct possibility that Hoomanawanui will line up as the Patriots’ starting tight end when they kick off the regular season at Miami on Sept. 7.

Not that that’s anything new; since his arrival in New England, Hoomanawanui has started as many games for the Patriots (18 including the postseason) as the oft-injured Gronkowski.

According to Hoomanawanui, Gronkowski’s health won’t change his approach as the upcoming season nears.

“I’ve still got to wake up every morning, come to work, put on my hard hat and get it done,” he said. “It’s definitely a thought (that Gronkowski’s condition would change his approach), but not much more than that. Like I said, I’ve still got to wake up every morning, come to work, and make my spot on the team.”

Still, given Gronkowski’s uncertain status and the Patriots’ current situation – Hoomanawanui, 2013 in-season pickup D.J. Williams, and rookie free agents Justin Jones and Asa Watson are the only players listed at tight end – it wouldn’t be a stretch to label the position as currently constituted “The Hooman Group.”

“(I’m) kind of taking on a leadership role here going into my fifth year,” Hoomanawanui said. “It sounds crazy just to say that, but it’s definitely been a blessing.”

Hoomanawanui has survived despite making modest contributions to the passing game: 37 receptions for 474 yards and four touchdowns in 43 regular-season games over four years in the league, 17 catches for 245 yards and one TD in 27 regular-season games over his two years in New England.

“Obviously my role in the passing game hasn’t been what (New Orleans’) Jimmy Graham or Rob Gronkowski have done,” Hoomanawanui said. “But it’s definitely something I’ve been working on, and hopefully it can be a part of this season.”

As it is, though, Hoomanawanui has carved out a niche for himself as a decent blocker who can line up at a number of different spots and do the grunt work – a niche reflected in the fact that the Patriots signed him to a two-year contract in March.

“The old adage is ‘the more you can do,’” said Hoomanawanui. “So whether it’s on special teams or obviously on offense, moving around, playing in-line, off the line, moving around to like an H-back, fullback role, I think that definitely helps. So hopefully I can keep on doing that and have a spot on this team.”

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